It's been ages since I last wrote for Moodscope. In fact these past few months I haven't been reading the blog every day... that's a change for me.

So my moodscope score this week is 31.

I could have guessed it would be low, but 31 is one of my lowest ever scores.

Things are different for me just now. I feel exhausted in the mornings. Despite having sufficient sleep, my body is heavy, my head foggy and I drag myself around for most of the day.

I have taken two days off work to focus on my mental health. Yesterday, a glorious day of weather (rare for us in Scotland) I wasn't able to relax. My busy head not slowing down. It's hard even to catch the thoughts. Do you know what I mean?

A constant churning in my head and my stomach. Sometimes my head whirring so much that when speaking to people - I have to really focus to listen because there's a constant something going on inside.

I just feel rubbish.

But you know what...

Somewhere buried inside my head there is faith that this will pass. I will make it easier, if I accept that it is ok not to be ok and if I work through this.

* Do the deep breathing. Slow things down.

* Keep my days really simple - accomplish one thing.

* Be in nature.

* Don't lie in bed - as soon as my eyes open - get UP. Get showered.

* That doesn't mean I need to be running doing errands, I can make a nice space to sit or 'be'.

* Flick through magazines - doesn't matter that I can't concentrate on any articles.

* Write down a list of what's circulating in my head - it's hard to catch the thoughts - but that's ok... but it's better out than in.

* Lastly, when I get overwhelmed... NOTICE. What 5 things can I see, hear, smell, feel.

So my message is... It's ok not to be ok. We have the tools and we have to push through these uncomfortable days to find the brighter, lighter days.

Carol Anne

A Moodscope member.